The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-09
IT STRAINED RELATIONS.
The Story of Wedding Present
Given by the Whitneys.


From the Baltimore american.
WASHINGTON. Aug "a good story has
just come TO the surface involving Secre-
tary Whitney and the family of Congress
man Randall 1t seems that when Miss
Randall was married last winter to Mr.. c.
c. Lancaster, the President of the Mary
land Democratic Club, of Washington, and
a gentleman well known throughout Mary
land. Secretary and Mrs. Whitney received
invitations to the wedding. The Secretary
was unable to attend, and Mrs. Whitney
was not visiting at that time. The
best discharge his duty by send
ing Miss Randall handsome
present. Her father and the Secretary had
always been good friends, although the
former, as Chairman of the Appropriation
Committee, had blocked many schemes for
the increase Of our beittled and infantile
navy. This opposition, however, was not
sufficiently stroug TO break down the bar
riers of friendship between the two men,
and Mr.. Randall had received several good
sized slices OF government pie in the way Of
appointment Of lisfc.endsor litical bench
men TO positions in the civil establishments
of the naval service. Matters went along
swimmingly until the Lancaster Randall
wedding, when an incident occurred which
has greatly strained the relations Of Mr..
Whitney and Mr.. Randall.
Mr.. Whitney received his invitation to the
wedding, and, as is his usual custom in per-
sonal matters called in his private secreta-
ry, Mr. Hanna, aud asked him to attend to
the matter Of selecting a wedding present
He gave Hanna good-sized check aud left
the selection i'll his hands. The latter visited
every jewelry store in town, and although
he is a married man and has the reputation
of being an fat in matters of this kind he
was at his wits end to know what to select
for the fair young bride. After cogitating
over the matter for four days, he thought it
would be an excellent idea to call on Miss
Randall, explain his predicamont in
which the Secretary had placed him,
and offer her the check as we'd
ding gift. He could not possibly have
adopted a worse plan, and he found himself
thoroughly deceived. Miss Randall was not
at home, and he asked for her mother, who
presently appeared, wondering who Mr.
Hanna was. Stating his errand before
many moments had elapsed, he found who
Mrs. Randall was. Hanna was torn in O
thousand shreds. To think of his daring to
thus insult a Randall! And Secretary
Whitney, how could he dare to offer money
to her daughter! mo, sir; if Secretary and
Mrs. Whitney could not find time to select
a present, they could keep their money!"
quoth Mrs Randall. The invitation was
not sent, sir, with any expectation of re-
ceiving. a present, and we do not want a
present selected by filtration through his
secretary. You can tell Mr.. Whitsey he
has got hold of the wrong family
sir, and we spurn his check" With
this he was about to leave, when Mr. Ran
dali, hearing the conversation, came down
stairs. The matter was explained by Hanna,
who begged Mrs. Randall not TO place the
blame on Mr.. Whitney, and assuming it all
himself. He further asked, as matter of
self protection, that Mrs Randall should
not give him away" TO the Secretary, as it
would go hard with him (Hanna), and a
great public sensation would ensue After
much tribulation, abject apologies and per-
suasive coaxing, Mr.. Randall finally con
scented TO accept a present for his daughter
selected by Mr. Hanna, and thus avoid the
publicity of political estrangement with
the Secretary of the Navy. Hanna was re-
joiced, selected an appropriate gift, and re-
turned to his duties a sadder and a wiser
man. 1t was close call all around, but the
present over which there was so much CON
tention now adorns the parlor of n pretty
house on Q street, where Mr.. and Mrs. Ian
caster reside